COLDWATER — Playing against tough competition—and playing outside for the first time this season—the Cheboygan baseball team opened up its season by finishing with a 1-2 record in three games played in Coldwater on Saturday.

After dropping a 13-2 contest to Mason (Ind.), the Chiefs responded with a 4-3 win over Fremont (Ind.) to improve to 1-1 on the day. The Chiefs’ last game of the day was a 7-6 loss to Coldwater.

Overall, though, Cheboygan manager Kevin Baller liked the improvement of his team throughout the day.

“After the first game, the kids really settled down, I thought,” said Baller. “I think there were a lot of nerves coming into the game because it was our first game outside, and we ended up having four errors in the game, but once our kids settled down and did a nice job against three really good baseball teams.”

In the victory over Fremont, Cheboygan was led by eight strong innings from pitcher Zack Socha (10 strikeouts, five walks, three runs, two hits), who also had the game-winning hit and RBI in the contest.

Adding two hits apiece for the Chiefs were Zack Schley (double, RBI) and Nate Stempky, while Chris Demeuse, Brady Hiller and Jared Proctor all had a hit apiece.

Cole Williams led the Chiefs with three hits and three stolen bases in the game against Coldwater, while Schley had two hits, Hiller had a double and an RBI, Socha had a hit and an RBI, and Stempky had a hit and a stolen base.

Demeuse (four innings, four hits, two strikeouts, two walks) and Stempky (two runs, walk, hit) both pitched in the contest for Cheboygan.

In the opener against Mason, Josh Stempky had a hit and two RBIs, while Williams had a hit and scored a run, and Demeuse doubled.

The Chiefs used four different pitchers in the game, including Demeuse (five runs, two hits), who took the loss, and Proctor (four hits, three strikeouts, two walks), Anthony LaLonde (two hits, strikeout, walk) and Hayden Schneider (hit).

“We were able to get a lot of kids playing time, and we also got to take a look at our pitchers we have, so it was finally nice to play games outside,” Baller added.

Cheboygan was scheduled to face Gaylord this Thursday, but the games have been postponed due to inclement weather.

Cheboygan boys’ track takes third place in Cadillac

CADILLAC — Three first places helped the Cheboygan varsity boys’ track team earn a third-place finish at the Cadillac Invitational held on Friday.

Earning first in the 200 was Jeff Bursey (25.13), while Christian Rosenberg (43.57) took first in the 300 hurdles, and 800 relay team of Bursey, Rosenberg, Logan Mills and Lance Willnow (1:38.31) also placed first.

For the Cheboygan girls’ track team, Mandy Paull placed in three different individual events to lead the Chiefs (59 points) to an 11th-place finish on Friday. Paull placed second in the 3200 (12:29), fourth in the 1600 (5:48) and fifth in the 800 (2:45).